Constant speed governor



Dec. 17, 1940.

C. E. MEYERHOEFER CONSTANT SPEED GOVERNOR Filed Sept s, 1958 INVENTOR zrfioe ('ar/ 232 far TDMIMMM M ATTO R N EYS Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES CONSTANT SPEED GOVERNOR,

Carl E. Meyerhoefer, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to E. A. Laboratories, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a cor poration of New York Application September 3, 1938, Serial No 228,463

Claims.

This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved governor.

While the present invention may be employed in numerous difierent associations, it is primarily intended for use where it is desired to drive a unit below or at a certain predetermined speed and by means of a driving unit which may well exceed such driving speed.

As such, the invention lends itself ideally to the provision of an improved unit which may be employed in association with internal combustion motors which are employed with various types of vehicles and to drive such units as compressors, pumps, or otherwise.

. A further object is that of furnishing a unit of this type which will drive a mechanism coupled to the same at a predetermined speed and then will maintain that speed regardless of any excessive speed at which a driving mechanism func- .tions.

A still further objects is that of furnishing a governor which may be operated under conditions such as aforenoted, for long periods of time, and without damage to the parts, and in which, when any parts require attention this may be effected with minimum efiort and time.

An additional object is that of furnishing a unit of this type, the parts of which will be relatively simple and economical to construct, susceptible to assemblage by unskilled labor, and of such compact nature that the unit may readily be disposed in confined spaces.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings, illustrating one practical embodiment'of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of a governor, and

Figs. 2 and '3 are transverse sectional views taken along lines 2-2 and 33, respectively, and in the direction of the arrows of Fig. 1.

Referring primarily'to Figul, it will be seen that the numeral 5 indicates a shaft which, by means of suitable anti-friction bearings 6,-is rotatably supported by brackets I and 8. Secured to the shaft adjacent one of its ends is a pulley 9, suitable for an engagement by a belt and encircling said shaft adjacent its opposite end, is a sleeve member Ill presenting a pulley portion II which may be engaged by a belt I2. This sleeve is also mounted upon anti-friction bearings and fittings I3 may be provided so that all bearings may be properly lubricated.

At this time it is to be understood that while pulleys 9 and II have been shown as conveniently providing the driving and driven members of the governor, any desired substitute units of well known character might be employed. Likewise, brackets I and 8 have been designed primarily having in mind the fact that the unit will ordinarily be mounted by the block of an auto- 5 mobile engine. It is apparent that the construction of these units may also be varied as desired. Interposed between sleeve Ill and bracket 1 is a hub member I4 which is secured to the shaft 5. Pulley II is formed with extended portions I5 which overlie an adjacent portion of the hub and in this zone the hub mounts a ring I6 preferably formed of steel. Each of the portions I5 is tapped and threaded to receive a screw I! which, as

shown, is preferably formed with an extension I8 1 encircled by a spring I9. The aggregate area occupied by the convolutions of these springs when compressed should be slightly less than the height of the extension I8 although in certain instances these may be substantially equal. As shown, ex-

tensions I5 are'four in number and disposed immediately adjacent the same pulley I I is provided with hubs 20 which mount pins'ZI. Rotatably encircling each of these pins are sleeves 22 formed adjacent one end of levers 23, the opposite end of these leversterminating in extended portions 24 underlying the extensions and springs I8 and I9.

Each of levers 23 is preferably reinforced by a flange or rib 25 and is curved to correspond to the degree of curvature of ring I6. Secured to the inner faces of these levers are sections of material 26 which may be formed of a substance such as high quality brake lining or clutch facing. In any event, it will be understood that with the parts in their normal position, springs I9 will cause the inner faces of lining sections 26 to firmly engage ring I6 so that as pulley 9 or its equivalent rotates shaft 5 and accordingly hub I4, the ring will rotate pulley II or its equivalent and at the same speed. However, should the speed of rotation become excessive, the centrifugal force acting on the outer ends of levers. 23 will cause the lever to swing outwardly against the compressive force of springs I9, so that a slippage will occur between sections 26 and ring I6. Obviously, such slippage will result in the generation of heat which, if not dissipated, might cause damage to the parts, especially having in mind that hub I4 is preferably constructed of die-cast metal. With this thought in mind, the major part of the hub may be encircled by heat dissipating fins provided by employing aluminum or any other suitable metal in the form of rings 21 which are conveniently formed with radial slots or notches 28. The latter are provided having in mind the hub is preferably to be die-cast and by so forming the fins, it is feasible to assemble the latter in a die and thereupon form hub 14 with the diecast material entering the slots 28. Moreover, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the slots in adjacent fins or rings 2'! will preferably be arranged in different zones. Accordingly, in forming the hub, no lines oriareas of weakness will occur such that zones of fracture occur. Moreover, as a consequence of this structure, a fan effect is achieved.

such that an improved heat exchange is effected by the fins and air rushing over them.

In operation, and assuming that pulley. elements 9 and H are employed, it' willbe obviousv that the governor is suitably mounted and according to a preferred technique screws I! are tightened to a point at which extensions l8:force the extended portions 24 of the levers 23.inward- 1y as far as may be feasible. Thereafter, set screws .l'l are.backed-up so that springs l9act upon the-extended portions 24; Of course, due to thearrangementof the parts, a firm interlockis, under: these" circumstances; assured between hub M -and driven element I I; This interlock will'prevailfor'example untilthe driven element II is rotating l800 -R. P. M., which we will assume ,gripping actions come'into effect; this being particularly noticeable at'h-igh speeds on the part of shaft 5 and it will beunderstood that it occurs regardless of the-l0ad-imp0sed upon the driven element.

These results obtain incident to the fact that the levers arepreferably mounted upon thedriven element andzit will, of course, be understood that the heat generated will be quickly transmitted to the fins and. thus dissipated;

Thus among others, the several objects. of the.

invention as afore noted are achieved. Obviously,- numerous changes in construction and rearrangemerits. of the parts might'be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention as definedby theclaims.

Havingdescribed my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A governor including a hub, a driven member extendingadjacent said hub, alever pivotally.

supported. by said. driven member, a set screw carried by said driven member andv engageable with said lever to force the same towards said hub, and a spring associated with said screw and engaging said lever to oppose the latter in its tendency to swing away from said hub and into contact with the end of said screw when the parts are rotated.

2. A governor including a hub, a driven member, portions of. said drivenmember. extending adjacent the hub, a plurality of levers'having one of their ends pivotally supported by said driven member, means carried by said driven member and engaging the opposite ends of said levers to forcethe: latter towards said hub, and heat dissipating meansassociated with said hub, and including. a plurality of notched fins inset into said. hub, said fins furnishing in aggregate an air impelling structure to cause a flow of air over said levers and hub tocool the same.

3. Agovernor including a hub, a driven member, portions of said driven member extending adjacent the hub; a pluralityoflevers havingone of their ends pivotally supportedby said driven member, means carried by' said, driven member andengagingthe opposite ends of saidleversto forcethe latter towardssaid hub, and heat dissipating... means associated with said. hub, and including a plurality-of notched. fins inset into said hub and the notches of, adjacent fins being;

disposed in different planes.

4. A governor; including/a hub, a driven member extendingadjacent.saidhub, a=lever pivotally supportedyby said driven member. and extending inthe-directi0n .of the path of rotation thereof,

a set-screw carried by said driven member and.

lying; in a plane bi-secting saidhub, said screw being engageableiwith the --freeend of said lever to urge theasame towardssaid hub, and a springv engaging. saidlever adjacent. the point of contact of said set-screw'with said end and adapted to oppose the tendency of said lever to swing outwardly on its pivot during, rotation of the partaa 5.. Agovernorincludingg a hub, a. driven memberextendingadjacent said hub, a lever pivotally supported. by said .driven :member and. extending in the direction of the-path of. rotation thereof,

a-set-screw carried-by. said driven member and lying in. a planeebi-secting. said-hub, said: screw being-engageable-with. the free-end. of said lever.

to .urge .-the "same. toward. said hub, a spring engaging said. leverv adjacent the point; of contact.

CARL.- E. MEYERHQEFER. 

